History Main / TheHandler

->''"Good afternoon, 47"...''
-->-- '''Diana Burnwood''', ''Franchise/{{Hitman}}''

A character type in SpyFiction and Action Thrillers, particularly in those which lean in the GovernmentConspiracy direction and/or those with [[HiredGuns assassins]] as their protagonists. The heroes [[MysteriousEmployer don't have access to their bosses]], but instead have orders relayed to them through the "Handler" whose jobs include looking out for the hero's physical and emotional well-being and/or killing the hero should they act out of line. In cases with the hero and Handler being of opposite genders, it is somewhat common for the Handler to have UnresolvedSexualTension with the hero as they are the "human face" of the secret organization to which the hero belongs.

* ''VideoGame/AlphaProtocol'' takes this UpToEleven; there are ''eight'' handlers used throughout the various missions. And yes, Mike and his primary (female) handler Mina have UnresolvedSexualTension.

* Frank's only real connection to the world in ''ComicBook/Red2004'' is his handler, Sally. The equivalent character in the movie isn't an example, as for various reasons her role was both changed and expanded.

* Frank's only real connection to the world in ''ComicBook/{{Red}}'' is his handler, Sally. The equivalent character in the movie isn't an example, as for various reasons her role was both changed and expanded.

** In ''''VideoGame/Hitman2016'', it's revealed she specifically chose 47 when they became partners, and the ''ComicBook/Agent47BirthOfTheHitman'' comic reveals the reason why (47 systematically shot five ICA agents to kill a target he was also chasing, and Diana finds him in a bar afterwards to ask him to join the ICA).

** Diana fills this role for Agent 47 in the ''VideoGame/{{Hitman}} series'' for all but a few missions over the 20 years the game franchise has been out, but others have also joined in the fun too:

->''"Good afternoon, 47."''

* Diana filled this role for Agent 47 in the ''VideoGame/{{Hitman}} series''. Before the events of ''[[VideoGame/HitmanAbsolution Absolution]]'', she [[spoiler:went rogue]] and got replaced by Ben Travis, an ex-army [[TheNeidermeyer Neidermeyer.]] After the events of the game Diana returns to the ICA and resumes her duties.

* ''Series/StarTrekPicard'': Narissa is Narek's handler; she's the one who approved (and has the authority to unapprove) his plan to seduce Soji for information. He must report his observations about their target directly to her.

* In the Literature/{{Quiller}} novels by Adam Hall each [[GovernmentAgencyOfFiction Bureau]] "shadow executive" has a director-in-the-field who organises safehouses, communication, transport, identity papers, liaison with government officials -- in short, anything the agent needs for the mission; especially since Bureau agents are never told what the mission is about, the idea being that the agent should not get distracted by any larger political implications. Agents have a right to refuse to work with a particular director, given that trust between the two is so important. Quiller's preferred director is Ferris, even though he's slightly creepy (he's rumored to strangle mice).

* So common in ''TabletopGame/DeltaGreen'' that its version of "YouAllMeetInAnInn" is "You are all called into the briefing by the Handler". As well that Intelligence Case Officer (the official name fors a handler) is one of the possible professions for the [=PCs=], in toher words, you are the Handler of someone else, a resource you can exploit in your investigations for Delta Green.

** Andrew Osnard (played by Pierce Brosnan in the [[FilmOfTheBook film]]) of Creator/JohnLeCarre's ''The Tailor of Panama'' is a classic example, recruiting title character Harold Pendel (Geoffrey Rush) as a spy and [[spoiler:applying so much pressure to him that he makes up information that when acted on majorly destabilizes the region]]

* In ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'', the handlers of the eponymous characters (particularly Louvre) are a major feature of the plot.

* Shen is this for Madeline and Grom during the events of [[{Literature/Voidskipper}} In Pursuit of Bark's Finest]]; he's their direct superior, the one sending them out on assignments, and the one who takes them off duty if he determines that they're no longer in condition to serve. He's also a cybernetic spider who's had himself duplicated thousands of times to keep up with an insane workload.

* Bob from the original Film/''{{Nikita}}''.

A character type in SpyFiction, particularly in those which lean in the GovernmentConspiracy direction and/or those with [[HiredGuns assassins]] as their protagonists. The heroes [[MysteriousEmployer don't have access to their bosses]], but instead have orders relayed to them through the "Handler" whose jobs include looking out for the hero's physical and emotional well-being and/or killing the hero should they act out of line. In cases with the hero and Handler being of opposite genders, it is somewhat common for the Handler to have UnresolvedSexualTension with the hero as they are the "human face" of the secret organization to which the hero belongs.

* Bob from the original Film/{{Nikita}}.

** Andrew Osnard (played by Pierce Brosnan in the [[FilmOfTheBook film]]) of Creator/JohnLeCarre's ''The Tailor of Panama'' is a classic example, recruiting title character Harold Pendel (Geoffrey Rush) as a spy and [[spoiler:applying so much pressure to him that he makes up information that when acted on majorly destabilises the region]]

** Hilshire was forced into becoming Triela's handler and has little idea of how to treat a young girl. He gives her minimal conditioning, causing her to become [[CoolBigSis mature]] and [[TheLancer remarkably independent]], and the two of them [[FireForgedFriends evolve a more natural partnership as a result]].

** Claudio Raballo is gruff father figure to Claes, teaching her fishing and gardening as well as the required combat arts. [[spoiler:He becomes guilty over what's being done to the girls, tries to blow the whistle on the Agency and dies in a suspiciously convenient traffic accident. As it's too difficult to reprogram a cyborg girl once they've bonded to a handler, Claes' memory is wiped and she's used as a human test subject.]]
** Sandro ends up romancing his older second gen cyborg Petrushka.

** Jose Croce makes Henrietta a ReplacementGoldfish for his dead little sister, doting on her constantly to the bemusement of the other handlers. This initially presents him as the most decent of the handlers, but as Henrietta's constant need for affection starts to tire him he doesn't object to her being reprogrammed into an EmotionlessGirl and treats her mostly with indifference.

** Jose Croce makes Henrietta a ReplacementGoldfish for his little sister, giving her gifts and doting on her constantly, to the bemusement of the other handlers. This initially presents him as the more decent of the handlers, but as Henrietta's constant need for affection starts to tire him he doesn't object to her being reprogrammed into an EmotionlessGirl.

* All of the girls of ''Manga/GunslingerGirl'' get one, and relationship dynamics vary with each one: they can be either the sweetest guys (like Jose [[spoiler:until he TookALevelInJerkass]]) or the biggest jerkasses (like Jean [[spoiler:who's doing it to toughen himself and keep him emotionally detached]] and Lauro [[spoiler:who DIES for that]]). The only one that doesn't have her own handler is Claes and that's because [[spoiler: it's hinted the Agency murdered him because he planned to tell the media about them.]]

* Michael (or Bob in the movie) filled the same role for ''Series/LaFemmeNikita'', and in the case of the former, there was definite UST.
* Bosley of ''Series/CharliesAngels'' in both the TV show and films.
* Carla in ''Series/BurnNotice'' when Michael is briefly stuck working for the bad guys.
** Her subordinate Victor is specifically called this
* Michael Vaughn served as the Case Officer for [[Series/{{Alias}} Sydney Bristow]].
* Boyd, then later [[spoiler:Paul]], is Echo's handler in ''{{Series/Dollhouse}}''.

* ''Series/ThePretender'': Sydney was Jarod's handler at the Centre from the time Jarod was a child, who gave Jarod the simulations to do and recorded the results.
* In ''Series/ScarecrowAndMrsKing'', Scarecrow is in some ways more like a handler then a partner. At the least if a veteran agent ever worked with a housewife turned spy (actually not impossible in RealLife though it would probably be less Hallmark-like) he would probably be a handler even if he told her he was a partner. In this case both the handler and the handled are heroic characters.
* In ''Series/TheDresdenFiles'', Ebenezer [=McCoy=] was assigned as a troubled teenage Harry's handler (unbeknownst to Harry) in case he ever [[DrunkOnTheDarkSide went nuts]] and needed to be eliminated.
* FBI agent Peter to BoxedCrook Neal in ''Series/WhiteCollar''
* Mr. Morden in ''Series/BabylonFive'', to Centauri Ambassador [[TragicHero Londo Molario]] and [[AristocratsAreEvil Lord Refa.]]
** Sheridan was shown to have one or two of these in the show's second and third seasons, due to his association with various Earth Force officers who had... doubts... about the circumstances between President Santiago's [[MakeItLookLikeAnAccident tragic death]] and the subsequent rise to power of [[PresidentEvil President Clark.]]
* ''Series/NowAndAgain'': Dr. Morris was Michael Wiseman's handler and keeper, tasked with both setting up Michael's missions and preventing him from interacting with the outside world (especially his [[BackFromTheDead widow]]).
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. In theory, the Watcher plays this role for the Slayer. Whether Buffy or Faith chose to follow the Watchers Council's orders is another matter.
** In spinoff series ''Seires/{{Angel}}'': Doyle (who gets visions from the mystical Powers That Be) attempts to be this in the first episode, giving Angel the relevant information from his visions and just stepping back to let him do the grunt work (arguing that he's just the messenger), but Angel isn't; having it, and drags him along to fight evil, which Doyle comes to like.
* Benjamin Tallmadge is Abraham Woodhulls handler in ''{{Series/Turn}}''.

* In ''Series/{{Chuck}}'', Sarah and Casey serve as Handlers for the title character.

* Carla in ''Series/BurnNotice''
** Victor is specifically called this

* Peter to Neal in ''Series/WhiteCollar''

A character type in SpyFiction, particularly in those which lean in the GovernmentConspiracy direction and/or those with [[HiredGuns assassins]] as their protagonists. The heroes [[MysteriousEmployer don't have access to their bosses]], but instead have orders relayed to them through the "Handler" whose jobs include looking out for the hero's physical and emotional well-being and/or killing the hero should they act out of line. In cases with the hero and Handler being of different genders, it is somewhat common for the Handler to have UnresolvedSexualTension with the hero as they are the "human face" of the secret organization to which the hero belongs.

* Diana filled this role for Agent 47 in the ''VideoGame/{{Hitman}} series''. Before the events of ''[[VideoGame/HitmanAbsolution Absolution]]'', she [[spoiler: went rogue]] and got replaced by Ben Travis, an ex-army [[TheNeidermeyer Neidermeyer.]]